Read more: Health, Optum, Smoking, COPD
By David Van Horn, Contributing Writer, myOptumHealth
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If you are young and you smoke, here's another reason to quit. Smoking is the most common cause of COPD, a respiratory disease that could leave you breathless later in life. Symptoms of COPD include chronic cough, chest tightness, wheezing and an increase in the production of mucus.
COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) includes emphysema and chronic bronchitis. In both conditions, the airways that carry air in and out of your lungs become blocked, making it hard to breathe. Between 80 percent and 90 percent of COPD and lung cancer deaths are caused by smoking.
Related Link: COPD: Are You at Risk?
Related Link: The Best Ways to Kick the Habit
COPD can be diagnosed by a series of simple breathing tests that measure lung volumes and function. A simpler version of this test using a peak flow meter can be used at home to determine the severity of symptoms in people with asthma.
In addition to smoking, other causes of COPD include heredity, exposure to secondhand smoke, occupational exposures and air pollution.
Problems linked to COPD
COPD is the nation's fourth-leading cause of death. With rising numbers of women smoking in past years, they have now surpassed men in the number of deaths from COPD.
According to an American Lung Association survey:
- More than half of those with COPD questioned said that their conditions limited their ability to work.
- More than half felt their COPD interfered with normal physical activity, household chores, sleeping and social activities.
Treatment for COPD
The best way to treat COPD is to stop smoking. This often relieves many of the symptoms of COPD and slows its progression. It also raises your life expectancy and lowers your risks for lung and other cancers. If you have COPD and quit smoking, your symptoms (coughing, wheezing and production of mucus) should lessen within a few months.
Other forms of treatment include:
- Bronchodilators. Help open narrowed airways. They are usually inhaled in spray form.
- Inhaled corticosteroids. Help reduce inflammation in the airways.
- Antibiotics. Given to fight bacterial infection when present.
- Expectorants. Help loosen and expel mucous secretions from the airways.
- Oxygen therapy. May prolong life for those with chronic respiratory failure.
Related Link: Breathe Easier With Pulmonary Rehab
Surgery
Surgical options may be offered to treat COPD when other treatments are not enough. Possible surgeries include
- Lung volume reduction surgery to remove damaged lung tissue
- Lung transplantation
Pulmonary rehabilitation
This type of program might help decrease symptoms and improve the quality of life. Aerobic exercise cannot reverse the damage caused by COPD. But it may help slow the decline of lung function.
COPD sufferers often have heart disease as well. Exercise as part of cardiopulmonary rehabilitation can help if done properly.
Ask your doctor if you are a candidate for a rehabilitation program.
Related Link: How Women Can Stop Smoking
Related Link: What Every Smoker Should Know About COPD
